Zhou Cheng’s gaze held a hint of allure when looking at Xia Xiaolan.

Though Xiaolan hadn’t eaten pork, she’d at least seen pigs run – Zhou Cheng was attracted to her and did not attempt to hide it.

She understood this looks-based world well enough. Men rarely disliked her face – why else would she have attracted today’s trouble?

Zhou Cheng and Kang Wei were her saviors. Xiaolan was honest with herself and didn’t play coy:

“Won’t it be too much trouble for you?”

“Not at all. We’ve been on the road for several days and needed a break anyway. We’ll take you home, then return to the county.”

Kang Wei opened his mouth.

Brother Cheng had never been this patient talking to girls. Despite many girls chasing after him, he’d never given them a second glance. They hadn’t planned to rest in Anqing County either – with a truck full of cargo, getting back to Beijing sooner would have settled this trip. Kang Wei secretly glanced at Xiaolan – she was indeed incredibly beautiful. Had she bewitched the usually women-averse Brother Cheng?

He didn’t dare speak up, only offering support:

“It’s no trouble. It’s so late – how unsafe would it be for you to walk alone? What if those thugs have more accomplices? Don’t worry, we’re not bad people – the police station has our records!”

Further refusal would be like treating her saviors as wolves.

Xiaolan looked at the big Dongfeng truck, unsure where she should sit.

Zhou Cheng shoved Xiaolan’s bicycle into Kang Wei’s hands: “Go to the back and watch the cargo.”

Kang Wei’s heart sank.

But he dared not defy Zhou Cheng and could only place Xiaolan’s bicycle in the truck bed. The cargo area was full of boxes, and Kang Wei barely squeezed in. Xiaolan wanted to say she’d go to the back, but they had cargo – perhaps they didn’t trust her.

She sat in the passenger seat as the Dongfeng started up.

Leaving the provincial road, the path to Qijing Village was terrible, with the wheels often precariously close to the edge.

Xiaolan kept giving Zhou Cheng directions. The truck was indeed much faster than a bicycle – a two-hour walk or one-hour bike ride only took half an hour by truck!

“My home is just ahead. The village roads are too narrow for vehicles – you can let me off here.”

Xiaolan pointed to Qijing Village.

Along the way, the fields were busy with activity. People were hurrying to bring threshed rice home before dark, carrying it bag by bag on their shoulders.

Smoke rose from village chimneys.

Usually eating two meals a day, during harvest they needed three meals, each substantial – how else could anyone manage such work?

Xiaolan had planned to return early to make dinner, but the police station visit had delayed her. She felt anxious, which Zhou Cheng noticed. As she got out, he suddenly asked:

“Are you going to Anqing County tomorrow?”

After such an incident, most young women would be terrified and likely stop doing business.

Even if they continued selling eggs, they’d take a few days to recover.

But Zhou Cheng felt Xiaolan wasn’t like most girls – she appeared delicate but was quite brave.

Sure enough, Xiaolan replied without hesitation:

“Of course. Brother Zhou, are you staying at the Anqing County guesthouse tonight? I’ll find you tomorrow and bring breakfast.”

Despite his roguish appearance, Zhou Cheng’s expression softened, thinking the young woman was quite conscientious.

“Go on then. Don’t leave too early tomorrow – it’s not safe.”

Xiaolan pushed her bicycle away.

Kang Wei approached hesitantly, “Brother Cheng, you like her?”

Zhou Cheng snorted coldly.

Kang Wei wailed – where was the justice? He’d been thinking about her the whole way, only to have Zhou Cheng snatch her away!

Xiaolan pushed her bicycle home.

Liu Fen had been worried. Xiaolan was late today, and they hadn’t seen her after finishing fieldwork. Liu Fen was about to go looking when Xiaolan returned. Though she’d fixed her clothes, the fishy smell of eggs couldn’t be hidden.

“I fell on the way and had to push the bike back. Many eggs broke.”

Xiaolan volunteered the information, but Liu Fen didn’t care about the eggs, quickly asking: “Are you hurt? Let Mom take a look!”

Xiaolan spun in place and hopped twice:

“I’m fine. Fortunately, two kind comrades gave me a ride. I’ll bring them breakfast tomorrow to thank them.”

“Why don’t you rest tomorrow?”

“But I promised to bring them breakfast. By the way, I already ate in town – what did you all have for dinner?”

Harvesting rice wasn’t just tiring – sweat mixed with various grass clippings created an unbearably itchy mess. Liu Yong and Li Fengmei hurried to shower. While Liu Fen cooked and watched Tao, she sent Xiaolan to bathe now that she was home.

Tao circled Xiaolan, “Sister Xiaolan, when will you take me to the county town?”

He looked up hopefully, like a little Pekingese. Xiaolan couldn’t resist pinching his cheeks:

“Sister’s busy making money – no time to play with you, little devil. But if you’re good, I’ll bring you a gift tomorrow.”

Tao’s eyes lit up. He wanted to go to town, mainly to stay close to Xiaolan. But his father said Sister Xiaolan was doing business and shouldn’t be bothered. Since Xiaolan promised a gift, Tao was satisfied.

He held out his hand, “I don’t believe you! You said you’d take me to town before, but snuck out early. Let’s pinky swear!”

Tao held out his pinky, and Xiaolan had to link his pinkies with him.

Their pinkies linked, thumbs pressed together.

“Cross my heart and hope to die, whoever breaks it is a dog!”

Liu Yong emerged from his shower just then. “You little rascal, showing no respect to your sister – who are you calling a dog?”

If Xiaolan was a dog, wouldn’t that make him, as uncle, a big dog?

Liu Yong chased the child around while Xiaolan held back laughter and intervened:

“Uncle, Tao and I were just playing – it’s fine, just entertaining a child.”

Exhausted from a day’s work, Liu Yong was just making a show of chasing. Hearing Xiaolan’s words, he laughed: “You sound so mature – you’re still a child yourself!”

An 18-year-old girl was old enough to marry.

But in Liu Yong’s eyes, his niece Xiaolan was still half a child.

Poor girl, born into the Xia family – biased relatives, a foolish father, and refusing her uncle’s offer to raise her, shouldering the burden of supporting the family herself. Liu Yong sighed: “Did you just fall today? I’m not your mother.”

The more time they spent together, the more Xiaolan realized how perceptive her Uncle Liu Yong was.

She didn’t hide it, explaining the day’s events:

“Those men had investigated my background beforehand. Do you think my bad reputation has spread to the county?”

Xiaolan sold eggs, but surely she didn’t go around introducing herself as “Xia Xiaolan from Dahe Village”? Liu Yong felt a chill of fear and suspected something was amiss. “I’ll make inquiries in town tomorrow, and properly thank these two saviors you mentioned. You, silly girl, think a couple of meals is enough thanks?”

“The field work…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get others to help. Won’t delay the harvest.”

Liu Yong left after dinner. Xiaolan discussed bringing breakfast with her mother – she was all talk, barely able to stir-fry two dishes decently, let alone make steamed buns. She couldn’t even proof the dough properly – in ’83 they didn’t have self-rising flour, using lye was considered good, more often using old starter, and Xiaolan couldn’t get the proportions right.

Li Fengmei chimed in:

“The pickled radish from a few days ago is sour enough. Mince some pork to mix in and make pork and pickled radish dumplings to take.”

Pure meat filling?

She hadn’t considered that – having any meat flavor was good enough. Who could afford pure meat filling in these times? Too extravagant!